Blues v Highlanders: Five players who put their hand up for All Black selection including hosts’ ‘exciting tearaway’ and ‘hard grafter’
Blues flanker Anton Segner and lock Sam Darry (inset) shone against the Highlanders.
After the completion of the Round 10 Super Rugby Pacific derby between the Blues and Highlanders at Eden Park on Friday, we take a look at five players who put their hand up for All Black selection.
In a fast-paced and thrilling encounter, in which both teams deserve plenty of credit for making it the entertaining spectacle that it was, the Blues eventually clinched a 47-40 victory.
There were several players who delivered outstanding performances and gave new All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie a timely reminder of their abilities ahead of the men in black’s Nations Championship Tests against France, Italy and Ireland in New Zealand in July.
Anton Segner
The Blues‘ entire pack deserve credit for this victory as they laid a superb platform for their backs and leading the way was exciting tearaway Segner who caught the eye with an outstanding all-round performance. The 24-year-old combined brilliantly with his fellow loose forwards Dalton Papali’i and Hoskins Sotutu on both sides of the ball and although he is the youngest member of that back-row combination and the only one who is not an All Black, he certainly enhanced his Test chances.
Segner was on the field for 63 minutes before being replaced by Torian Barnes but by the time he left the pitch he had left his stamp on this match. The former New Zealand U20 representative was brilliant on attack as he gained 60 metres from nine carries with one clean break and three defenders beaten and his efforts were rewarded with a brace of tries. Meanwhile, he also shone at the breakdown battle where he won a match-high two turnovers.
Sam Darry
Another one of the home side’s forwards who deserves credit is Darry, who led the Blues’ forward charge for the full 80 minutes. As expected, the All Blacks second-row made a big impact in the lineouts as he won his fair share of balls on the Blues’ throw-ins and also competed ferociously when the Highlanders put the ball in at the set-piece.
Apart from that, the 25-year-old also made his presence felt on attack as he was a willing ball carrier – especially at close quarters – and he crossed for a crucial five-pointer late in the opening half. A hard grafter throughout at the coalface, Darry also did his bit on defence as he completed eight hits.
Timoci Tavatavanawai
After initially being contained by the Blues defence, the Highlanders co-captain came alive in the second half when the Highlanders were chasing the game as he took the fight to the home side with great physicality on both attack and defence. As usual, Tavatavanawai was the men from Dunedin’s go-to-man with ball in hand as he caught the eye with great physicality as a ball carrier which gave his side good momentum especially in the final quarter when they were chasing the game.
The 28-year-old led the way on attack for the visitors as he eventually gained 51 metres from 12 carries which included eight defenders beaten. His ability to draw in defenders came in handy as it created space for his midfield partner Tanielu Tele’a, who was rewarded with a brace of tries.
Beauden Barrett
The seasoned campaigner had some shaky moments towards the end of this encounter but the two-time World Rugby Player of the Year winner also showed that he should not be ignored for higher honours as he delivered some flashes of brilliance which proved crucial in the grander scheme of things.
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The 34-year-old impressed with his game management and playmaking skills as his creativity on attack created several try-scoring opportunities for his outside backs and the Blues eventually outscored their opponents by seven tries to six. Barrett also delivered a fine goal-kicking display and finished with a 12-point haul after slotting six conversions.
Adam Lennox
He only made his Super Rugby Pacific debut for the Highlanders last year and was promoted to the run-on side for his first start of this year’s campaign after impressing off the bench in last week’s loss to the Brumbies. Lennox took his opportunity with both hands as he put in a superb attacking performance during his 57 minutes on the field.
The 22-year-old delivered a crisp service to his outside backs while he also brought his forwards into play with some deft offloads, but his biggest impact was made on attack as he gained a team-high 95 metres after making two clean breaks with eight defenders beaten and crossing for two well-taken tries. Lennox also did well on defence as he made eight tackles before All Black Folau Fakatava replaced him.